CHAP. IV.] THE EARLY BUDDHIST MONUMENTS. 347 



The images of Gotama, which in time became objects B - c - 

 of veneration, were but a late innovation 1 , and a doubt " 

 has even been expressed whether the religion of Buddha 

 in its primitive constitution, rejecting as it does the doc- 

 trine of a mediatorial priesthood, contemplated the exist- 

 ence of any organised ministry. 



Caves, or insulated apartments in imitation of their 

 gloom and retirement, were in all probability the first 

 resort of devotees in Ceylon, and hence amongst the 

 deeds of King Tissa, the most conspicuous and munifi- 

 cent were the construction of rock temples, on Mihintala, 

 and of apartments for the priests in all parts of his 

 dominions. 2 



The directions of Gotama as to the residence of his 

 votaries are characterised by the severest simplicity, and 

 the term " pansala," literally " a dwelling of leaves," 3 by 

 which the house of a priest is described to the present 

 day, serves to illustrate the original intention that persons 

 dedicated to his service should cultivate solitude and 

 meditation by withdrawing into the forest, but this was 

 to be within such a convenient distance as would not 

 estrange them from the villagers, on whose bounty and 

 alms they were to be dependent for subsistence. 



In one of the rock inscriptions deciphered by Prinsep, 

 King Asoka, in addressing himself to his Buddhist 

 subjects, distinguishes them as " ascetics and house- 

 holders" In the sacred books a laic is called a " graha 

 pah," meaning " the ruler of a house ; " and in contra- 

 distinction Fa Hian, the Chinese Buddhist, speaks of the 

 priests of Ceylon under the designation of " the house- 



1 The precise date of their intro- \ were Buddhists or Brahmans ; but 

 duction is unknown, but the first j the account which he gives of the 

 mention of a statue occurs in an in- class of them whom he styles the 



scription on the rock at Mihintala, 

 bearing date A.D. 246, and referring 



Hylobii, would seem to identify them 

 with the Sramanas of Buddhism, 



to the house constructed over a "passing their lives in the woods, 



figure of Buddha. | fwi/rec tv rats vAaTe, living on fruits 



2 TtrBNotra's Epitome, p. 15. i and seeds, and clothed with the bark 



3 It is questionable whether the i of trees." MEGASTHENES' Itidica, 

 Sarmanai, mentioned by Megasthenes, j &c., Fragm. xlii. 



